Window regulator mechanism



Nov. 28, 1967 A, LY TAD I 3,354,582

WINDOW REGULATOR MECHANI SM Filed Jan. 11, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

[vnam 0.295%

[Z BY ATTORNEY Nov. 28, 1967 A. LYSTAD 3,354,582

WINDOW REGULATOR MECHANISM Filed Jan. 11, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,354,582 WINDOW REGULATOR MECHANISM Leonard A. Lystad, Warren, Mich assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 11, 1966, Ser. No. 519,858 Claims. (Cl. 49-227) This invention relates to window regulator mechanisms and more particularly to window regulator mechanisms for moving a vehicle body window between open and closed positions along a curvilinear path.

One feature of this invention is that the window regulator mechanism includes a pair of bellcrank levers interconnected at the joint thereof, with one of the arms being mounted on the body and connected to one portion of the window and the other arm being connected to another portion of the window and being guided for move ment relative to the one arm. Another feature of this invention is that the arms are arranged in sequential relationship in one terminal position of the window and that one respective leg of each arm remains in such relationship throughout window movement while the other respective legs of the arms reverse their relationship during window movement. A further feature of this invention is that the actuating means for moving the one arm is operatively connected thereto adjacent the pivot interconnecting both arms. Yet another feature of this invention is that the guiding means for the other arm controls the rate of movement of the other arm relative to the other arm to control the rate of movement of the other portion of the window relative to the one portion of the window.

These and other features of the invention will be readily apparent from the following specification and drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a partially broken away partial side elevational view of a vehicle body embodying a window regulator mechanism according to this invention with the window being shown in closed position;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 showing the window in open position; and

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken generally on the plane indicated by line 33 of FIGURE 1.

Referring now to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, a vehicle body designated generally includes a front door 12 movable between open and closed positions and mounting a vertically movable door window 14 for closing a portion of the body window opening at one side of the body. The remaining portion of the body window opening is opened and closed by a body window 16 movable along a curvilinear path, as will be described, between a closed position, as shown in FIGURE 1, and an open position, as shown in FIGURE 2. In the open position of the window it is located within a well designated generally 18 defined by a body inner panel 20 and a body outer panel 22.

A rear guide member 24 is conventionally mounted on the panel 20 and includes a guide slot 26 which receives a flanged roller 28 pivotally secured to the lower frame member 30 of window 16. A front guide member 31 is also conventionally mounted on the inner panel 20 and includes a guide slot 32 which receives a flanged roller 34 secure-d to the frame member 30. The rollers 28 and 34 and the respective guide slots 26 and 32 locate window 16 longitudinally of the body but do not control the vertical position of the window nor movement of the window in its own plane as it moves between open and closed positions. The guide member 31 includes a further slot 36 which receives a flanged roller 38 of a stabilizer arm 40. Arm 40 is pivoted at 42 to the frame member 30 and 3,354,582. Patented Nov. 28, 1967 swings relative to this frame member as roller 38 moves within slot 36. Rollers 28, 34 and 38 provide a threepoint guidance of the window to laterally stabilize the window relative to the guide members 24 and 31.

A bellcrank lever or member 44 is pivoted at its lower end at 46 to the guide member 31 and mounts a flanged roller 48 at its upper end which is received within a guide slot 50 of the window frame member 30. The lever 44 includes an intermediate embossment to which is pivoted at 52 an intermediate portion of a bellcrank lever or member 54. The upper end of the lever 54 mounts a flanged roller 56 received within a slot 58 of the frame member 30. The lower end of the lever 54 mounts a flanged roller 60 which is received within an arcuate guide slot 62 of a bracket member 64 located between the guide member 31 and the inner panel 20 of the body and conventionally secured to each.

A back plate member 66 is conventionally mounted on the inner panel 20 and mounts a conventional window regulator clutch and pinion drive arrangement 68 which drives a sector 70 pivoted at 72 to the back plate. The sector 70 is connected to the lever 44 by an intermediate link 74 pivoted at 76 to the sector and at 78 to the lever.

When the window 16 is in closed position as shown in FIGURE 1, it will be noted that the levers 44 and 54 are located in sequential or successive relationship to each other with the upper and lower legs thereof located in angular relationship to each other.

As the window 16 moves toward its open position of FIGURE 2, the lever 44 swings about the pivot 46 and the lever 54 moves with the lever 44 about this pivot and also swings relative to the lever 44 about the pivot 52. The movement of the lever 54 about the pivot 52 is controlled by movement of the roller 60 within the arcuate slot 62. This slot is arranged so that the upper legs of the levers 44 and 54 angularly diverge through decreasing angles and the lower legs of the levers angularly diverge through increasing angles during movement of the window toward open position. Immediately prior to the movement of the window to open position, the upper legs of the levers 54 and 44 reverse their relationship and cross over each other as shown in FIGURE 2 to thereby move the rear portion of the window at a slower rate than the forward portion to swing the forward portion rearwar-dly and downwardly within the well 18 so that the window can be stowed therein in its open position. The wheel house 80 of the body projects into this well and the window of necessity must be stored in this position if it is to be stored within the well in open position.

It will be noted that the lower legs of the levers 44 and 54 remain in the same relationship during movement of the window between open and closed positions and that only the upper legs thereof cross over each other or reverse their relationship during movement of the window. Only the forward portion of the well 18 is of suflicient depth to receive the window regulator mechanism. By arranging the levers 44 and 54 and the driving means for these levers as shown, the entire mechanism can be easily fitted within the well.

Thus this invention provides an improved window regulator mechanism.

I claim:

1. In combination with a vehicle body having a window opening therein and a window movable between open and closed positions with respect to the opening, a window regulator mechanism for moving said window comprising, in combination, a pair of bellcrank levers arranged in sequential relationship and pivotally interconnected at the joint thereof, one of said levers having one leg thereof mounted on said body and the other leg thereof operatively connected to said window, the other of said levers having ares pec'tive other'leg thereof operativelvco nnected to said window; aiid means operatively connected to the respective one leg of said other lever for swinging said other lever relative to said one lever upon movement of said o ne lever relative tosaid body', said respective legs of said levers'be'ing'arrang e'd in sequential pairsand angular divergent relationship with; respect to each other, the legs of one of said pairs being located inthe same sequential relation in each position of said window and the legs of said other of said pairs beinglocated in rev'erse rel'ationship in the open and closed positions of said window. V

2. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein the angular divergence of one of said pairs'of legs is substantially the same in each position of said window and the angular divergence of the other of said pairs of legs increasing upon movement of said window between open and' closed positions. v

3. The combination recited in claim 1 including actuating means for said window regulator mechanism operatively connected to said one lever adjacent'the pivotal connection of said one lever to said other lever;

.T ..'Q I 2inati0n recited in claim 1 wherein said means operatively connected to the one leg of the other lever includes guide means defining an arcuate path different than the path of movement of the window and means connecting said one leg to said guide means.

5. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein said window isreceived within'a' well in said body in the open postion' thereof, said bellcr'ank levers being' located adjacent one side of said well, and actuating means are provided for said levers, said actuating means being located at said one side of said well generally below said levers and are operatively connected to said one lever adjacent the pivot thereof to said other lever. 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A VEHICLE BODY HAVING A WINDOW OPENING THEREIN AND A WINDOW MOVABLE BETWEEN OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE OPENING, A WINDOW REGULATOR MECHANISM FOR MOVING SAID WINDOW COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A PAIR OF BELLCRANK LEVERS ARRANGED IN SEQUENTIAL RELATIONSHIP AND PIVOTALLY INTERCONNECTED AT THE JOINT THEREOF, ONE OF SAID LEVERS HAVING ONE LEG THEREOF MOUNTED ON SAID BODY AND THE OTHER LEG THEREOF OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID WINDOW, THE OTHER OF SAID LEVERS HAVING A RESPECTIVE OTHER LEG THEREOF OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID WINDOW, AND MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE RESPECTIVE ONE LEG OF SAID OTHER LEVER FOR SWINGING SAID OTHER LEVER RELATIVE TO SAID ONE LEVER UPON MOVEMENT OF 